How we support volunteers

East African Playgrounds offers universities and colleges a unique experience in international volunteering due to the ethical, transparent and personalised approach given to each partner.

When East African Playgrounds was founded in 2009, Tom and Carla (the founders) had had contrasting experiences with volunteering organisations, one very poor and the other fantastic. As the idea for the charity was growing so was the way in which the charity could engage supporters. What better way to engage your supporters than to help a build they playground they’ve fundraised for? And so, our volunteering projects began.

We are absolutely committed to providing the best volunteering projects for all involved. We have a dedicated team of staff who will journey through with you from joining us, fundraising, training and preparation to even being in country with you volunteering.

With hundreds of companies offering volunteering opportunities that are both expensive and have a negative impact on the people and communities they are supposed to support, volunteering abroad has got a controversial name. But we believe that done well, the impact in endless. Our projects have been able to develop and grow due to the clear values and ethics that we follow.

Core values

Approachable

When you volunteer with East African Playgrounds you have a consistent staff member with you from signing up through to volunteering in Uganda. We aim to make ourselves very approachable to make sure that no question is too big or too small, too silly or too serious.

Become part of the East African Playgrounds family

Without planning it, the ‘EAP family’ has become a thing! Due to the caring nature of the charity, our volunteers leave feeling part of the family. A common phrase used is ‘It’s not a goodbye, it’s a see you soon.’

Highly Ethical

We are committed to our ethics throughout the charity. We have set up the project to ensure that volunteers are adding value to every project and are not simply there for the sake of it. If you volunteer on an East African Playgrounds project, it won’t be a holiday, you’ll be working hard.

High Impact

Our volunteers have a positive impact on the communities they are working with due to the training we provide, the project we run and the communities we select to work with.

Low cost and transparent

Volunteering doesn’t have to be expensive. We make it clear to see where the money you raise and pay goes too, so that all costs are transparent. We also give various options when in country so the project can fit different budgets depending on the amount you want to do.

No third-party companies

We no longer work with any gap year and challenge companies as they inflate costs to maximize their own profits.

Sustainable Volunteering

With our volunteers helping to build a high-quality playground their impact is long term and allows us to employ more local staff.

Related

East African Playgrounds is a charity born and grown through the enthusiasm of university students. We therefore have a wealth of knowledge surrounding the topics they are interested in and the problems they may face.

If you have been on the hunt for a ethical, transparent and approachable charity partner to provide your students with an incredible international volunteering experience, then you have come to the right place.

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The Gorilla Trek is the ultimate African adventure allowing you to explore, discover and develop the incredible country of Uganda. As an ethical, affordable trip, it’s what you need to have the summer of a lifetime.
Apply now! Don't miss out on your place

East African Playgrounds is a UK registered charity and international NGO, focused on East Africa, primarily Uganda. Children need to play to access their childhood, allowing them to gain all the developmental benefits that play has to offer giving them the tools for future success.

This incredible volunteering experience is just a fraction of the cost of most. Just because it is low cost does not mean it is low quality. We are able to provide our volunteering project at a reasonable price because we don't know have large overheads or work with third party providers who need to make profit. We aim to be transparent and accountable with where the money we receive goes.

It’s all about experiencing a new culture whilst giving children their childhoods through play. Weekdays volunteering at a school building a playground and weekends exploring the amazing activities on offer in Uganda. What's not to love!

I believe that every child deserves an opportunity to play, be active and have fun with their friends in a safe and friendly environment, and therefore I am taking part in the Gorilla Trek during August 2018!

To make sure you are bursting full of ideas and plans for your fundraising we have provided you with every resource you could possibly need. Have a read through all the documents below to make your fundraising is a breeze.

Uganda Volunteer Project is all about experiencing a new culture whilst giving children their childhoods through play. Weekdays volunteering at a school building a playground and weekends exploring the amazing activities on offer in Uganda. What's not to love!
Apply now! Don't miss out on your place.

Hi, my name is Megan and I will be volunteering with Eastern African Playgrounds in Uganda in the summer of 2018! In many communities across eastern Africa there is an absence of facilities in schools due to poverty and lack of funding. EAP aim to give the children of Uganda the opportunity to develop their creativity and improve their cognitive, social and emotional skills by building playgrounds for the children to engage in educational play. EAP have been installing these playgrounds througho